Kickstarter for Grow Shelter Dos: Navajo Artist Retreat

Taka Sarui of XLXS and Artist Thomas Isaac

Artist friend and creative collaborator, Thomas Isaac is the focal point of an architectural themed Kickstarter campaign. The project is being hosted by the brooklyn-based design and architecture firm XLXS.

XLXS and Isaac's goal is to construct an earth shelter into the natural landscape of a one-acre plot of land within the Navajo Nation. The location will be in Shonto, Arizona and the objective of the symbiotic framework is to create a retreat for local and visiting artists to gather and collaborate on creative endeavors. 

Based on his Navajo background and artistic vision, Isaac has laid out the following design guidelines for the project:

• The structure should enable artists to work outside in the open air in the breath-taking landscape, while providing protection from the harsh sun and strong desert winds.

• The Navajo custom of gathering around the fire and sharing ancestral stories at night should be incorporated as an important component of the design.

• Most importantly, the shelter should be as sustainable as possible and be a home for the local plants and animals as well as human visitors.

Section of Navajo Artist Retreat Concept

 

XLXS already has experience with this type of dwelling with their recent eco-shelter nestled into the Natural Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The domicile's goal is to have as little impact on its surrounding environment as possible, as well as to adapt and respond to the various seasons.

Below is the Kickstarter video for the proposed Navajo Artist Retreat that outlines the philosophy behind the project and the forward thinking construction methods that will be used to construct it. Visit the Kickstarter page here and consider donating to supporting this incredible proposal.

THIS Gallery Hosts Peter Bjorn & John Art Show

 

THIS Los Angeles gallery, the Highland Park art space that brought us the Judgement Night Show, is hosting an exhibition featuring artwork by Jonas Torvestig. The event is brought to us by, and is featuring a DJ set from, Peter Bjorn and John. It is a celebration of Jonas Torvestig's collaboration with Peter Bjorn and John on the design of their newest album's cover art.

The opening reception and DJ exhibition will be held on Thursday, September 29th from 7PM - 11PM featuring complimentary PBR!

Thomas Isaac's Hollywood Hobo Painting

 

Thomas Isaac is a local Los Angeles painter, friend, and fellow adventurer. He has completed his latest painting titled "hollywood-hobo wearing a thong, true-story-no-lie-ask-GINA". The piece measures 5 feet by 3 feet and Isaac describes it as an acrylic mess. The painting is inspired by the type of characters one can regularly observe on the streets of Hollywood. As a previous Hollywood resident, this painting makes total sense to me.

If you enjoy this piece, take a look at Isaac's website for more work samples and contact him for more details.

Wet Hot American Gothic Opening @ Gallery 1988 Venice

 

Gallery 1988 is a primarily eighties themed, pop culture driven, contemporary art gallery with spaces in Hollywood and Venice Beach California. A small sampling of illustrations displayed in 1988's shows are depiction's of deranged Alice in Wonderland characters, Doc Brown, Jay and Silent Bob, Skeletor, Milton & Mr. Lumbergh, the Mario Kart players, and original TRON characters and light bikes (just to name a few).

Perfectly aligning with this nostalgic trend of cult status pop culture motifs, the Venice Beach location of Gallery 1988 is hosting a Wet Hot American Summer art show. This event glorifies the 10th anniversary of the underground comedy written, directed, and starring several alums of MTV's 90s sketch comedy classic The State. The most notable individuals involved in Wet Hot American Summer, the trio that went on to form Stella, are Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain.

The event features Wet Hot American Summer themed art from over 65 artists and the opening reception is Friday, June 10th from 7-10PM. The location of the newest Venice arm of Gallery 1988 is 214 Pier Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405. I fully plan on attending this opening so stay tuned for images.

 

Now that the Smoke has Cleared: Judgement Day Art

Since the dawn of man, we have used the tools in our environment to depict images of the Gods believed to have created us and renderings of some sort of afterlife. The Last Judgement by Hans Memling, created during the 15th century, is a classical example of a painting portraying the Christian's end of the world belief in the rapture. 

In modern times, Harold Camping falsely predicted that the rapture would transpire on May 21st of this year. This marked his third wrong prediction (according to wikipedia). As stated before, THIS gallery, located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, celebrated "Judgement Night" on the night of May 20th with a one night art show. I had the opportunity to attend the event.

I would have to describe the motif of the show as a guide to post-apocalyptic survival. The first things visible in the gallery were haunting ski masks and nail-ridden baseball bats. The harshness of the Mad Max-esq baseball bat weapons were contrasted with images of colorful butterflies. The back wall of the gallery featured more zombie killing, end of time era weapons constructed of twisted metal, broken glass, rusted steel, and splintered wood.

 

 

The armageddon themed event also contained a wall of mostly geometric, grey scale artwork. A few of these pieces seemed to have slightly ambiguous cosmic undertones to keep with the tone of the night.

 

 

The final region of the show incorporated a fantastic collage containing images of the occult, S&M, voodoo, and a lone picture of Johnny Cash.

 

 

THIS gallery had recently been invaded by the French street artist Invader with a red, white and blue mosaic piece.

 

 

Lastly, the event was scored with two turntables by the awesomely eccentric punk rock icon Keith Morris. Keith is the original lead singer and founding member of Black Flag before Henry Rollins took the reins. He also leads the rowdy and raucous punk bands the Circle Jerks and, most recently, OFF!

I was slightly too awkward to snap a picture of Keith DJing so I'm going to impart his presence with YouTube videos. Below are two of OFF!'s official music videos released for their first album. The second video was filmed in a downtown Los Angeles warehouse/arts complex that hosted one of the best art shows that I have been to on the west coast. Another event that Keith Morris provided the sounds for.

 

 

Even though the "Judgement Day" weekend proved to be the uneventful psychobabble of an elderly religious weirdo, THIS Gallery embraced the opportunity to put on a hell of a party and art show. Also, the event provided excellent inspiration for home made weapons to use during the zombie apocalypse. 

Judgement Night Show

 

All over Los Angeles there are billboards with Family Radio Worldwide claiming that the end of the world is Saturday, May 21st. There is a great deal of brouhaha about this all over the internet as well.

To honor this, THIS gallery in Highland Park is doing a one night show. The show is Friday, May 20th (the night before the big day!) from 7-10PM. It features Keith Morris; the original lead singer of Black Flag, Circle Jerks front man and OFF! lead singer. Check it out.

THIS los angeles; 5906 North Figueroa Street; Los Angeles, CA 90042